Douglas County schools will review 2013 SAT scores to see if changes need to be made in how the system prepares students for the college entrance exam after seniors scored 35 points lower than 2012 systemwide, the superintendent said last week.

Douglas County’s 2013 systemwide average was 1338, down from 1373 in 2012 and 1352 in 2011.

Superintendent Gordon Pritz, said administrators were “certainly disappointed to see a decline in our scores after seeing a substantial increase last year, but each year stands alone as it is a different group of test takers.”

“The data will be carefully reviewed to determine if there are other measures we need to take to address this over time,” Pritz said. “We will look at specific efforts being made at our high schools to impact SAT and ACT scores and determine if there is more we can do.

“With increased cuts to our budget from the state it makes it increasingly difficult to provide the same level of service in all areas that we have in the past and this can begin to manifest itself in other areas of student achievement,” he said.

Georgia’s students in 2013 scored an overall 1,452, compared to the national average of 1,498.

According to results from the Douglas County School System and the Georgia Department of Education, this year’s results showed:

- The 2013 systemwide average score of 1338 included a 457 in reading, 446 in math and 435 in writing.

The 2012 systemwide average of 1373 included a 466 in reading, 461 in math, and 446 in writing.

- Alexander High School recorded the highest average among Douglas County schools this year, scoring a 1414 overall – down from 1418 in 2012 but up from 1406 in 2011.

It was above the county average in all three subject areas.

- Douglas County High School has a composite score of 1404, up slightly from 1401 in 2012 but down slightly from 1406 in 2011. It also was above the county average in all three areas tested.

- Chapel Hill scored an overall average of 1358, which was a 26-point drop from 1384 in 2012.

The school showed it had a tendency for fluctuating scores – its 2012 composite was a 59-point increase from 1325 in 2011.

Chapel Hill was above the county average in math and at the county average in reading and writing.

- New Manchester had a 2013 composite score of 1247, which was a 29-point drop from 1276 in 2012 – the school’s first year of recording SAT scores. It was below the countywide average in reading, math and writing in 2013.

- Lithia Springs’ score was 1227, down 37 points from 1264 in 2012. Its students scored a 1260 in 2011. It was below the county average in all three subjects.

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